Elevator



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No. a|3,627.

E L E V A T 0 R,

(Application mea Jan. 29, 189s.;

(No Model.)

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WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS.

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JOSEPH HADFIELD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AUGUST M. FAY

AND LOGAN R. FAY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

ELEvAToR. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,627, dated Novembervl, 1898.

Application filed January 29, 1898. Serial No. 668,418. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH HADFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, (Brooklym) in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention enables an elevator or car to be simply and efficientlyoperated or moved and the invention resides in the novel features of construction set forth in the following speciiication and claims and illustrated in the annexed drawings, in whichf- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the elevator with parts in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section along x x, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a car and adjacent parts in section along y y, Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a section along e, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows a vacuum or pressure tube in section. Fig. 7 is a section along u o, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a section along w zo, Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is an elevation of a vacuum-tube.

The car or cage 1 is adapted to run along a suitable way or track or up and down a shaft 2, Fig. 5. The motive power is obtained by aid of a suitable number of pressure or vacuum tubes 3. Four tubes are shown in the drawings; but this number can manifestly be varied. The description of one tube will explain the function of all.

The tube 3 has a slit 4, Figs. 6 and 9, extended along its length. This slit or opening can be closed by a suitable valve-as, for example, a flexible strip 5, extended along or over the slit. Into the tube is fitted a piston 6, having a lip 7, Fig. 7, extended into the slit to touch the valve-strip 5. When the air in the tube in front of or above the piston is exhausted, the strip 5 will be held or forced to sit air-tight against the tube 3 and the piston-lip 7, so that the tube-space above piston 6 is closed air-tight or practically air-tight. The consequent air-pressure against the rear or under face of piston tends to force the latter along or up the tube or cylinder 3.

The required vacuum can be attained in any suitable way. An exhaust-tube 10, Fig.

l, is shown suitably branched or connected, as at 11, to the vacuum-tubes 3. The vacuum or partial vacuum in the cylinders 3 can be made to propel pistons 6 with the car 1. The piston or its rod 8, Fig. 6, is shown suitably connected at 9 to the car. This connection or fastening-plate 9 extends from car 1, under valve 5, into slit 4, to the piston-rod 8. Such connection or follower 9 thus tends to hold the valve-strip 5 suitably raised or free 'from tube 3, so that air can enter through slit 4 at the undervor rear side of the piston. The follower-plate 9 should of course have its edges suitably smoothed, rounded, or dulled, so as to glide along strip 5 without chafing or cutting. The edges of slit 4 should also be suitably rounded or shaped to give strip 5 a seat allowing air-tight closure without injury to such strip. The pistonerod 8 being of sufficient length or the piston 6 being located sufficiently above or in advance of car 1, the valve-strip 5 in advance of the piston is free to make air-tight closure against slit 4 in spite of such valve'being held open at the follower 9 for the entrance of the propelling pressure against the piston.

The valve-strip 5 can be held toward the slit 4 or in position, as it ymight popularly be expressed, to be sucked to closing position when the exhaust begins to operate by rollers 12, suitably mounted on the car 1 and suitably held, as by spring arms or bearings 13, to press the valve-strip 5 toward slit 4; also, by providing strip 5 With a strip of flexible magnetic steel 14, normally attracted or held by the iron tube 3,'sucli strip 5 is prevented from coming out of place. In Figs. 8 and 9 are shown spring connections 15, which, being arranged at one edge of the strip 5 to draw or hold the latter to the tube 3, will prevent the strip sagging away from the tube or losing its place. At the same time these connections 15 can be arranged along one edge of the strip 5, so as to allow follower 9 proper freedom in traveling and in opening successive portionsof the valve-strip 5.

In Fig. 1 the lower portions of the tubessuch, for example, as the portions 3', extending into the cellar or subcellar-are shown gradually contracted or of diminished area in cross-section. The lowersections 8 are closed at the sides and bottom; but air or pressure confined therein can be allowed to escape more or less freely by the tubes 16, having valve 17, which can be opened or set as required.

The piston-rod 8, which is shown extended above the car 1 to the workin g piston G, is also shown extended below the car a suitable distance to the piston or plunger 18. This safetypiston 18 is of a size to fit into the cushion or safety section 3. If the elevator drops, the piston 18 enters tube-section 3', from which the air escapes with proper slowness, and such piston 18 is thus cushioned or the fall gradually arrested or broken.

The safety-columns 3', as also the working columns 3,it is understood,are suitably braced or supported, so as to stand firmly and properly.

To prevent the elevator from falling, a safety grip or clutch is provided. From exhaust-tube 10 extends a hose 19, Fig. 1, to a cylinder 20, suitably applied, as at the bottom of the car. The piston of this cylinder is shown at 21, and such piston or its rod is provided with awedge 22,which, by suitably-applied spring, tends to spread the clutch rods or slides 23, having clutches 24C. When exhaust occurs in tubes 10 and 19 and cylinder 20, the piston 21 is drawn or forced inward in its cylinder to withdraw wedge 22, so that the springs 25 can move clutches 24; to releasing position. If by accident or for any cause the vacuum in cylinder 2O is broken, the piston 2l, with wedge 22, is freed, so that the clutches 24 are moved into action. These clutches can be of any suitable form and can be made to grip the tubes 3 or suitable rails run along the tubes or shaft.

Byhaving a suitably-applied entrance-tube 26, Fig. 4, at cylinder 2O and a valve 27 suitably applied, asin reach of the conductor, the latter can at will open this valve and break the vacuum in cylinder 20, as in case of emergency or to stop the car, as required. Such opening of valve 27 also breaks the vacuum in cylinder 20, and consequently in hose 19 and tubes 3, so as to stop the car. By such breaking of vacuum the clutches are also instantly applied, as seen. The vacuum-grip 20 21k can be applied wherever suitable.

In case the car should travel too far or rise too high it can be automatically stopped by suitable arrangement. In Fig. 4 the workin g piston 6 is shown with a finger 28 extending above or in advance of such piston. When passing beyond the limit, the linger 28, open ing a suitable cap or valve 29 of tube 3, will cause the vacuum or working pressure to be broken. The cap or lid 29 can be arranged in any suitable way and made when open or removed to give access to tube 3 for cleaning Vor other purposes.

The elevator or car, as noticed, is actuated by a vacuum or partial vacuum produced in any suitable way. The tube 10 can be connected with an air or exhaust pump (not shown) of any suitable construction and operated by suitable means or power. A building or hotel, for example, with water-power accessible or convenient can use the latter, economically working the pump. The breaking of the vacuum for any reason will cause grip 24 to stop or hold the car, as seen. The valve-strip 5 is formed of suitable flexible material. A compound strip composed of a layer of rainbow packing and silk has been found satisfactory in practice. The packing being placed next the cylinder or slit 4 and the silk ribbon outside or next the magnetic strip 14 has been found satisfactory. Rubber strips may be objectionable, as the tube or parts may be oily and the-contacting rubber thus aifected.

The starting and stopping of the elevator can be accomplished by suitable well-known means in reach of the conductor, as by a rope for stopping and starting the vacuum-pump. The make and break of vacuum by the entrance or relief valve 27, as seen, will allow starting and effect stopping, the exhaust-tube l0 being in such case continually in action.

In the drawings are shown four columns 3, with their pistons 6, thus giving four points of working or of safety. The car can of course be counterweighted, if seen fit. The drawings show an elevator-car 5 but obviously a car can be propelled along a track or horizontal way by the vacuum arrangement, if seen it.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a car, of a slit or open air-pressure or vacuum tube, a piston in the tube connected to the car, and a valvestrip provided with a magnet or magnetic strip and extended along the slit substantially as described.

2. The combination with a car, of an airpressure or vacuum tube contracted at its lower end, a working piston in the tube above the car, and a piston in the tube below the car and connected with the working piston, said pistons being connected to the car, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a car, of an airpressure or vacuum tube, a piston in said tube connected to the car, said car having a vacuum-cylinder connected with said tube, a piston in said cylinder, clutches engaged by the last-named piston, and rails for the engagement of the clutches, substantially as described.

4E. The combination with a car, of a slit or open air-pressure or vacuum tube, a piston and rod in the tube, and a connection between the car and piston-rod, said piston being located above the connection to the car substantially as described.

IOO

IIC

5. The combination With a ear, of an ar- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set pressure or Vacuum tube, a piston in the my hand in the presence of two subscribing tube connected to the oar, and a vaeuum- Witnesses.

cylinder carried by the car and a clutch, said JOSEPH HADFIELD. 5 Vacuum-cylinder being connected to the tube Witnesses:

and an entrance-Valve forbreakng the Vacu- W. C. HAUFF,

um substantially as described. E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

